Biggest Challenges Faced By A Policy And Legislative Advocate At Health Access California
Christine's biggest challenge as a Policy and Legislative Advocate at Health Access California is navigating situations where "there's just not enough resources" or facing opposition rooted in fundamentally different beliefs, particularly when advocating for policies like healthcare for undocumented people where some groups oppose it entirely; additionally, the presence of mansplaining is a frequent frustration. Even though "sometimes days can be frustrating," there's a persistence to continuing to "engage and like continue to advocate for what I think is important."
Advocacy, Policy, Healthcare, Legislative Process, Negotiation
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Christine Smith
Policy & Legislative Advocate
Health Access California
UC Berkeley
University of San Francisco: Masters in Public Administration
Political Science, American Studies
Government & Public Sector, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Communication and Marketing
Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. Advocating for desired outcomes is challenging when facing budget shortfalls and limited resources, requiring persistence and adaptability.
2. Navigating strong opposing viewpoints and contentious debates requires finding ways to advocate for beliefs while engaging with those who hold fundamentally different perspectives.
3. Working in policy and legislative advocacy involves dealing with potential biases, such as mansplaining, which can be frustrating but requires professional navigation.
Transcript
What's your biggest challenge in your role?
My biggest challenge in my role is an interesting one. There are so many options, and sometimes I can't get everything done.
No matter how much we advocate, things don't always come out the way we want. Especially this year, there's a budget shortfall, so I don't have the resources for everything I think there should be. Sometimes, no matter how hard I fight, I don't get the outcomes I think are best for people.
That said, there's always more to fight for, or sometimes something that goes away for two years will come back. We're always having these conversations. Days can be frustrating because people don't see things the way you do.
In some areas, there are really strong opinions on both sides, and it can get contentious. Trying to figure out how to advocate for what you believe in while also being in space with others who fundamentally believe something different can be difficult.
I have a bill about healthcare for undocumented people, and one of the groups opposing it is against anything for undocumented people. They're opposing all of my bill, not just a piece of it. There's not much I can do except continue to engage and advocate for what I think is important.
Those can be challenging days. I believe I'm right, but I'm also trying to figure out how to work with others when we are fundamentally different. There are a lot of men in my job, and there can be a lot of mansplaining, which can get very old.